Virgin StartUp welcomes new mentors ahead of National Mentoring Day

One of the UK’s most prominent business mentor networks, Virgin StartUp, has welcomed a new batch of high-profile mentors to its community ahead of National Mentoring Day.

What is Virgin StartUp?

Since its launch by Sir Richard Branson in 2013, the not-for-profit hub has connected startups with a network of hundreds of mentors. Founders can also access business advice, funding and training.

As a partner of the British Business Bank, Virgin StartUp also provides entrepreneurs with access to early-stage funding – from £500 to £25,000. The organisation has already helped fund over 6,000 businesses.

The Virgin StartUp Community also allows founders to connect with other businesspeople and industry experts, fostering a strong network of support that extends well beyond financial backing.

To celebrate National Mentoring Day, you can sign up to the Community for a discounted £12.99 per month or an annual fee of just £99 (instead of £180).

New mentors join the community

From today, 14 new top-tier business mentors—many well-known within the start-up world—are available to members of the Virgin StartUp Community.

Among them are Elsie Rutterford and Dominika Minarovic, co-founders of the sustainable skincare brand BYBI, which kicked off with a Virgin StartUp Loan in 2015 and has since grown into a multimillion-pound international company.

Also featured is David Abrahamovitch, the founder of Grind, an ethical coffee-pod business that began as a coffee shop in 2011 and achieved over £21m in sales last year.

Another new mentor is Julie Cove-Smith, former CEO of Emma Bridgewater Pottery, who has recently launched her own venture, Eleven as One.

What is National Mentoring Day?

The 27th of October is National Mentoring Day – the largest celebration of mentoring worldwide.

The non-profit organisation behind the initiative recognises and promotes mentoring efforts globally. Find out more about how you can get involved or celebrate mentoring in your own community here.

Tips to get the most out of a mentor-mentee relationship

Here are five things you can do to make the most out of your time with a mentor.

1. Prepare before your meeting: Prepare some specific questions before your meeting. Work out what you want to achieve from the session. If you don’t know your mentor yet, take some time to research their background.
2. Be open to feedback: Embrace constructive criticism and be prepared to be challenged. It can be hard to listen to advice sometimes, but this is crucial if you want your business to grow.
3. Follow through on advice: If you’ve received some helpful advice, make sure you turn it into action.
4. Maintain communication: Keep your mentor updated on your achievements, challenges, and setbacks. Being a mentor can be very rewarding too.
5. Grow your network: Mentors often have valuable connections to help you in your business journey. Don’t hesitate to ask for introductions to relevant people or resources (within reason!)